ICU/Neurology Dietitian (Band 6)

at  North Bristol NHS Trust

To provide an evidenced based inpatient service to the Neurology, Elective Surgical and Complex medical wards. To provide cover to a monthly Huntingtons clinic and set up a monthly Parkinsons. This means; Providing expert advice to patients, carers and clinicians (both within NBT and areas served by the specialist units) about the most effective nutritional treatment. Liaising with members of the health care team in hospital and in the community to ensure they are fully informed and able to support the patient in implementing the appropriate nutritional prescription / management for their condition.
To be responsible for and manage a defined clinical caseload alongside this training role. The caseload will include complex cases, with multiple pathologies, which the post-holder will manage with minimal supervision from a more senior Dietitian To be trained (to green card level) to use the Nutricia feeding pumps. To advise and deliver training on safe usage of enteral feeding pumps to ward-based staff, patients and carer (daily event). To contribute towards training other health care professionals in NG and nasal bridle placement To be able to state Trust enteral nutrition policy.
To be able to set up an enteral feed and advise medical and nursing staff, patients and carers about safe placement of enteral feeding tubes (NG, PEG, jejunal) To deliver enteral training to patient/family/carers to facilitate safe discharge into the community with enteral tubes To contribute towards changes to the Trust enteral nutrition policy, identifying any training needs as a result and implement a clear dissemination programme To undertake nutritional assessment of patients based on history taking and interpretation of biochemistry and other diagnostic tests, anthropometry and clinical condition To develop nutritional care plans which are both realistic and practical for the patient and carers, taking into account medical, social, cultural and psychological factors To ensure that patients and their carers understand their condition / diagnosis, the options for nutritional treatment and the implications of compliance or non-compliance. To discuss and agree dietary and medical targets To assess suitability of patients current medical treatment in relation to their symptoms and dietary patterns and recommend changes in treatment to physician or GP To facilitate behaviour change and negotiate dietary and lifestyle changes with patients, enabling them to achieve agreed dietary and medical targets even where there are significant psychological, social or cultural hurdles to overcome. This will be aided by postgraduate training in counselling, motivational approaches and behaviour change To monitor and review the outcomes of nutritional and behaviour change interventions and adjust care plans to facilitate achievement of required goals To act on the findings of dietetic assessment and planning, liaising as necessary with members of the health care team in hospital and in the community to support the client in implementing appropriate nutritional prescription / management for their condition To attend and actively participate in ward rounds and MDT meetings to provide expert nutrition and dietetic opinion and communicate with other health professionals to contribute to the most effective treatment and safe discharge of patients Take steps to develop and maintain effective working relationships with other members of the MDT and wider PCT-based care teams Within defined caseload, to review patients prior to insertion of NG or Gastrostomy tube to verify appropriateness of procedure and to advise the Endoscopy Unit/Interventional Radiologists of the findings. To supervise and co-ordinate, on behalf of the MDT, all aspects of the safe and timely discharge of patients on artificial nutrition support including liaison with the Avon Home Management Service (HMS) and social services To maintain adequate written and electronic records and statistics of all assessments and interventions in line with local and national standards.
To ensure that all records are stored securely To record and submit clinical and professional activity data according to departmental and national standards To prescribe nutritional items from the Dietetic Formulary and to advise on their safe usage. To take responsibility for the monitoring of patients who are prescribed specialist non-Formulary nutritional products In conjunction with colleagues, to review, update, produce or procure educational resources which are acceptable to users of the service and their carers. To evaluate resources to ensure they are effective. To use all resources efficiently and with care To provide cover for colleagues during periods of absenc

Please refer the Job description for details